1 Not playing on Good Friday always seemed like the AFL’s act of penance – for all of its sins, at least it observed the solemnity of the day. The modern, self-confident league no longer has such concerns, and boldly ventures into the formerly sacred space when the Bulldogs and Kangaroos meet (if the AFL really wanted to troll the religious objectors, they should’ve scheduled St Kilda for this fixture). Traditional observances are hard to break, though – as reported on the AFL website, Etihad Stadium has tripled its fish order, bringing in one tonne of flathead fillets for the faithful.

2 Sharp observers noted that the bottom four after three rounds – Hawthorn, Sydney, North Melbourne and Fremantle – happened to be the final four of 2015. For competition engineers and parity lovers, it’s a satisfying sight, and a useful talking point when criticism of the AFL’s imbalance comes up. Has the trend finally turned after the early years of free agency and concessions in the draft?

3 The Swans might be winless, and with a game tonight out west against the Eagles and the derby a week later against the Giants, last year’s runners-up is conceivably looking at an 0-5 start. It was out of mind on Tuesday as Inside Sport checked in on a Swans Academy day for their entry-level 11- and 12-year-olds. As the next potential Isaac Heeney or Callum Mills ran around, we chatted with Academy coach and 2005 premiership Swan Jared Crouch about how to spot AFL talent. Particularly interesting was his view about players who object to leaving home: “I have my doubts about the character of guys like that.”

4 When the magazine did a cover shoot with Luke Hodge a couple of years ago, we were impressed at the Hawthorn great’s natural leadership qualities and the ease with how he related to everyone. By all accounts, he’s raised his kids to have a tremendous sense of humour too …


You can win four premierships, but even dad is only ever as good as his last week.

5 One of our magazine editors, and our resident rugby league guru, paid a visit to Adelaide and took in a Showdown along the way. His essential read on that visit is here. Curiously, he happened to be a guest at the game of the AFL’s diversity tsar Tanya Hosch – alas, he was removed from the race-baiting elements of the crowd that now has Hosch working overtime.